Australia's sheep farming industry is in a state of crisis, with prices plummeting to their lowest levels in 16 years, according to Bloomberg.

This has led to some farmers resorting to drastic measures, including giving away their sheep for free or even euthanising them to avoid the cost of care.

The current situation is a stark contrast to the record-high prices of lamb and mutton enjoyed by farmers less than three years ago.

The sudden downturn has left many farmers in despair, with older sheep fetching an average of just $34 in October. Mutton prices, on the other hand, have fallen 75 per cent over the past year.

Sheep farmers are resorting to drastic measures to reduce their supply. Credit: Christopher Burns/Unsplash

There have even been cited instances of animals being sold for less than a dollar a head, according to Tim Jackson, a Global Supply analyst at Meat & Livestock Australia.

‘Some farmers are getting almost nothing,’ Andrew Spencer, Chair of Sheep Producers Australia, stated. ‘It’s been very volatile over the last couple of years.’

What is the root cause of this crisis? An oversupply of sheep.

Over the past three years, higher-than-average rainfall has led to abundant grass and forage for livestock. This has allowed farmers to significantly increase their sheep herds.

As a result, Australia now has an estimated 79 million sheep, about three times the human population, marking the country's largest number of sheep since 2007.

However, this boom in the sheep population has led to an oversupply, causing prices to plummet over the past year. Many abattoirs are at capacity, and farmers are struggling to find ways to decrease supply.

Mr Spencer shared that in some cases, where sheep are of low quality, farmers have resorted to giving animals away for free to pet food producers.

Adding to the industry's woes is the government's plan to phase out live sheep exports by sea, a practice considered by animal welfare groups to cause excessive and unnecessary suffering. This will mean farmers must reduce their sheep numbers, export them only by air, or slaughter sheep onshore before being shipped off.

While a date for this phase out plan has not yet been announced, the government has said it will not happen before 2025. This looming change has only added to the concerns of oversupply and further uncertainty in the industry.

In the meantime, the plight of Australia's sheep farmers serves as a sobering reminder of the challenges faced by those in the agricultural sector. It's a tough time for those on the land, and they need our support more than ever.

Here’s ABC News’ coverage of the issue:

​

Key Takeaways

• Australian sheep farmers are facing a crisis due to a drastic 75 per cent drop in sheep prices, with some reports of animals selling for less than a dollar a head.
  
• The oversupply is largely due to three years of higher-than-average rainfall, which led to the country’s sheep population increasing to an estimated 79 million, the highest number since 2007.
  
• To combat the crisis, some farmers are reportedly giving away sheep for free or even euthanising them to avoid continued care at a loss.
  
• The Australian government’s plan to phase out live sheep exports by sea due to animal welfare concerns has intensified oversupply concerns, with a full phase-out not scheduled before 2025.
  

What are your thoughts on this issue, members? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.

 

[Lizzie1149]

Australia's sheep farming industry is in a state of crisis, with prices plummeting to their lowest levels in 16 years, according to Bloomberg.

This has led to some farmers resorting to drastic measures, including giving away their sheep for free or even euthanising them to avoid the cost of care.

The current situation is a stark contrast to the record-high prices of lamb and mutton enjoyed by farmers less than three years ago.

The sudden downturn has left many farmers in despair, with older sheep fetching an average of just $34 in October. Mutton prices, on the other hand, have fallen 75 per cent over the past year.

View attachment 34688

Sheep farmers are resorting to drastic measures to reduce their supply. Credit: Christopher Burns/Unsplash

There have even been cited instances of animals being sold for less than a dollar a head, according to Tim Jackson, a Global Supply analyst at Meat & Livestock Australia.

‘Some farmers are getting almost nothing,’ Andrew Spencer, Chair of Sheep Producers Australia, stated. ‘It’s been very volatile over the last couple of years.’

What is the root cause of this crisis? An oversupply of sheep.

Over the past three years, higher-than-average rainfall has led to abundant grass and forage for livestock. This has allowed farmers to significantly increase their sheep herds.

As a result, Australia now has an estimated 79 million sheep, about three times the human population, marking the country's largest number of sheep since 2007.

However, this boom in the sheep population has led to an oversupply, causing prices to plummet over the past year. Many abattoirs are at capacity, and farmers are struggling to find ways to decrease supply.

Mr Spencer shared that in some cases, where sheep are of low quality, farmers have resorted to giving animals away for free to pet food producers.

Adding to the industry's woes is the government's plan to phase out live sheep exports by sea, a practice considered by animal welfare groups to cause excessive and unnecessary suffering. This will mean farmers must reduce their sheep numbers, export them only by air, or slaughter sheep onshore before being shipped off.

While a date for this phase out plan has not yet been announced, the government has said it will not happen before 2025. This looming change has only added to the concerns of oversupply and further uncertainty in the industry.

In the meantime, the plight of Australia's sheep farmers serves as a sobering reminder of the challenges faced by those in the agricultural sector. It's a tough time for those on the land, and they need our support more than ever.

Here’s ABC News’ coverage of the issue:

​

Key Takeaways

• Australian sheep farmers are facing a crisis due to a drastic 75 per cent drop in sheep prices, with some reports of animals selling for less than a dollar a head.
• The oversupply is largely due to three years of higher-than-average rainfall, which led to the country’s sheep population increasing to an estimated 79 million, the highest number since 2007.
• To combat the crisis, some farmers are reportedly giving away sheep for free or even euthanising them to avoid continued care at a loss.
• The Australian government’s plan to phase out live sheep exports by sea due to animal welfare concerns has intensified oversupply concerns, with a full phase-out not scheduled before 2025.

What are your thoughts on this issue, members? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.

And the supermarkets are making hay while the sun shines. Pity we can't bury direct from the farmer. Oh but that might put the supermarkets in jeopardy, can't have that. Dreadful when sheep are being given away and sold for a pittance but the supermarkets are charging $16 and $25 a kg for lamb. Regulations for farm gate sales in this country are outrageous. A good slaughterrman can make a good living from farm gate sales and there would not be any health issues.

 

[Jo Piper3]

So very sad for the sheep farmers.

 

[Suzanne rose]

The government needs to step in . Why should the supermarkets make so much and the farmers so little

 

[patwat]

Australia's sheep farming industry is in a state of crisis, with prices plummeting to their lowest levels in 16 years, according to Bloomberg.

This has led to some farmers resorting to drastic measures, including giving away their sheep for free or even euthanising them to avoid the cost of care.

The current situation is a stark contrast to the record-high prices of lamb and mutton enjoyed by farmers less than three years ago.

The sudden downturn has left many farmers in despair, with older sheep fetching an average of just $34 in October. Mutton prices, on the other hand, have fallen 75 per cent over the past year.

View attachment 34688

Sheep farmers are resorting to drastic measures to reduce their supply. Credit: Christopher Burns/Unsplash

There have even been cited instances of animals being sold for less than a dollar a head, according to Tim Jackson, a Global Supply analyst at Meat & Livestock Australia.

‘Some farmers are getting almost nothing,’ Andrew Spencer, Chair of Sheep Producers Australia, stated. ‘It’s been very volatile over the last couple of years.’

What is the root cause of this crisis? An oversupply of sheep.

Over the past three years, higher-than-average rainfall has led to abundant grass and forage for livestock. This has allowed farmers to significantly increase their sheep herds.

As a result, Australia now has an estimated 79 million sheep, about three times the human population, marking the country's largest number of sheep since 2007.

However, this boom in the sheep population has led to an oversupply, causing prices to plummet over the past year. Many abattoirs are at capacity, and farmers are struggling to find ways to decrease supply.

Mr Spencer shared that in some cases, where sheep are of low quality, farmers have resorted to giving animals away for free to pet food producers.

Adding to the industry's woes is the government's plan to phase out live sheep exports by sea, a practice considered by animal welfare groups to cause excessive and unnecessary suffering. This will mean farmers must reduce their sheep numbers, export them only by air, or slaughter sheep onshore before being shipped off.

While a date for this phase out plan has not yet been announced, the government has said it will not happen before 2025. This looming change has only added to the concerns of oversupply and further uncertainty in the industry.

In the meantime, the plight of Australia's sheep farmers serves as a sobering reminder of the challenges faced by those in the agricultural sector. It's a tough time for those on the land, and they need our support more than ever.

Here’s ABC News’ coverage of the issue:

​

Key Takeaways

• Australian sheep farmers are facing a crisis due to a drastic 75 per cent drop in sheep prices, with some reports of animals selling for less than a dollar a head.
• The oversupply is largely due to three years of higher-than-average rainfall, which led to the country’s sheep population increasing to an estimated 79 million, the highest number since 2007.
• To combat the crisis, some farmers are reportedly giving away sheep for free or even euthanising them to avoid continued care at a loss.
• The Australian government’s plan to phase out live sheep exports by sea due to animal welfare concerns has intensified oversupply concerns, with a full phase-out not scheduled before 2025.

What are your thoughts on this issue, members? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.

If there are so many sheep why is lamb so expensive
The price is ridiculous high. I would not mind eating older sheep If the price was right. Some one is getting rich & it's not the farmers.

 

[magpie1]

There should be an enquiry into why we are paying such high prices for lamb at the moment then....the poor Australian farmers are getting nothing for their produce and the slaughter houses are at capacity, then why are we getting screwed over for the price of lamb at the Supermarket in this time where so many people are struggling to put food on their table ?

 

[kevinwoodtufftyke52@gmail]

Australia's sheep farming industry is in a state of crisis, with prices plummeting to their lowest levels in 16 years, according to Bloomberg.

This has led to some farmers resorting to drastic measures, including giving away their sheep for free or even euthanising them to avoid the cost of care.

The current situation is a stark contrast to the record-high prices of lamb and mutton enjoyed by farmers less than three years ago.

The sudden downturn has left many farmers in despair, with older sheep fetching an average of just $34 in October. Mutton prices, on the other hand, have fallen 75 per cent over the past year.

View attachment 34688

Sheep farmers are resorting to drastic measures to reduce their supply. Credit: Christopher Burns/Unsplash

There have even been cited instances of animals being sold for less than a dollar a head, according to Tim Jackson, a Global Supply analyst at Meat & Livestock Australia.

‘Some farmers are getting almost nothing,’ Andrew Spencer, Chair of Sheep Producers Australia, stated. ‘It’s been very volatile over the last couple of years.’

What is the root cause of this crisis? An oversupply of sheep.

Over the past three years, higher-than-average rainfall has led to abundant grass and forage for livestock. This has allowed farmers to significantly increase their sheep herds.

As a result, Australia now has an estimated 79 million sheep, about three times the human population, marking the country's largest number of sheep since 2007.

However, this boom in the sheep population has led to an oversupply, causing prices to plummet over the past year. Many abattoirs are at capacity, and farmers are struggling to find ways to decrease supply.

Mr Spencer shared that in some cases, where sheep are of low quality, farmers have resorted to giving animals away for free to pet food producers.

Adding to the industry's woes is the government's plan to phase out live sheep exports by sea, a practice considered by animal welfare groups to cause excessive and unnecessary suffering. This will mean farmers must reduce their sheep numbers, export them only by air, or slaughter sheep onshore before being shipped off.

While a date for this phase out plan has not yet been announced, the government has said it will not happen before 2025. This looming change has only added to the concerns of oversupply and further uncertainty in the industry.

In the meantime, the plight of Australia's sheep farmers serves as a sobering reminder of the challenges faced by those in the agricultural sector. It's a tough time for those on the land, and they need our support more than ever.

Here’s ABC News’ coverage of the issue:

​

Key Takeaways

• Australian sheep farmers are facing a crisis due to a drastic 75 per cent drop in sheep prices, with some reports of animals selling for less than a dollar a head.
• The oversupply is largely due to three years of higher-than-average rainfall, which led to the country’s sheep population increasing to an estimated 79 million, the highest number since 2007.
• To combat the crisis, some farmers are reportedly giving away sheep for free or even euthanising them to avoid continued care at a loss.
• The Australian government’s plan to phase out live sheep exports by sea due to animal welfare concerns has intensified oversupply concerns, with a full phase-out not scheduled before 2025.

What are your thoughts on this issue, members? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.

When farmers got record prices for their sheep did they help Aussies by reducing prices for us? Me thinks NOT , so why ask us to help them when prices are low!

 

[Gsr]

When farmers got record prices for their sheep did they help Aussies by reducing prices for us? Me thinks NOT , so why ask us to help them when prices are low!

When I was growing up I spent quite a lot of years living on farms, dad was a sharefarmer. There were always a lot more bad years struggling to make ends meet than good years when prices were good and meant you might make enough money to have a bit to spare. What to do with it? Mostly it just stayed in the bank or under the mattress to help when times were bad again. There were then and still are a lot of farmers living below the poverty line. Not all farmers own the farm they work on, a lot have to pay rent and or share any money they make from farming with the owners. Wages for farm workers are really low as well, and work is hard and days are long. Farmers who want a day off or a holiday have to pay someone else to look after their farm while they are away. Dairy farmers need to hire someone to milk their cows, usually twice a day. So holidays are usually few and far between.

 

[Elvenwishes]

If there are so many sheep why is lamb so expensive
The price is ridiculous high. I would not mind eating older sheep If the price was right. Some one is getting rich & it's not the farmers.

I have eaten sheep of all ages and honestly I do not know why the supermarkets have stopped supplying mutton and hogget. I am a country girl and this is horrendous the cost of lamb products. I have been spoilt as we have lamb etc very often (but I guess that's what happens when your family have sheep) if I could buy direct from the farmer I would and even ask them to slaughter the animal and cut it up.

 

[dollydewdrop]

How can I get some free sheep?